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Government Saves Millions Of Naf On Water Purchase.

PHILIPSBURG:--- “The amount of water that has to be purchased under the current ‘take or pay’ clauses of the purchasing agreements have resulted in substantial financial losses for the country. Seven Seas Water was approached to see if Sint Maarten could get some relief from the minimum take or pay clause and their response was both immediate and positive.” – Emil Lee, Minister VSA.
Emil Lee as the Minister of VSA, who is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water, began an investigation into the financial situation of the government’s position as owner of the public water supply as part of the post-Irma assessments Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- With the financing agreements for the new general hospital signed on Friday, February 23rd, it is important for the general public to understand how health care will be improved. Although the new hospital is critical for the country, the agreement by all parties to work towards JCI or Joint Commission International Accreditation is also an important milestone accomplishment.
Acquiring the financing for the new hospital was one of the many phases outlined in the business plan that was developed by the Tripartite members; Ministry of VSA, SMMC and SZV Read more

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Ministry Of Vsa Offers Persons Impacted By Irma With Temporary Housing Alternative

Minister Lee inspects Temporary Emergency Housing with Dr. J Foundation

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, the Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee announced the commencement of an Emergency Transitional Housing Program to be managed in by the Dr. J. Foundation. Minister Lee recently took a tour of the facility together with Dr. Judith Arndell to inspect the progress of the renovations currently taking place Read more

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Payment Date For License Plates And Vehicle Inspection To Be Extended To June 30.

POND ISLAND:---  Due to the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the country is still in the recovery phase.
Hundreds of vehicles suffered damage. The Government is well aware that many in the community are facing serious hardships and choices have to be made such as fixing one’s home, awaiting settlements from insurance companies, awaiting parts/or awaiting repairs for their vehicles; taking the aforementioned into consideration, with motor vehicle fees due in February, a decision has been taken to extend the compliance payment date for license plate and vehicle inspection fees by an additional four months.
The aforementioned is a form of relief to the community which is still suffering from the effects of the hurricanes Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- National Alliance (NA) Leader Silveria Jacobs says the party’s manifesto is a comprehensive solution-oriented document that addresses the many concerns of residents in the community ranging from the recovery and rebuilding of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Philipsburg, February 23, 2018: Fresh, one of the longest-running youth radio programs on St. Martin, hosted by Y2X, the youth wing of Victorious Living Foundation, hosts its final interview in its election series this Saturday from 6 p.m. via its new home, Tunescarib.com. For 14 years, scores of youth have hosted Fresh on 92.5FM which was first Radio Maranatha and then transferred a few years later to Youth Radio (YR). The first president of Y2X, Andre Huie who now owns www.voiceofthecaribbeanradio.net and recent Ph.D Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Frans Richardson has been released from pretrial detention today Friday, February 23rd, 2018/ Richardson has spent 10 days behind bars as the TBO team investigates his role in the Squid and Emerald Investigation.

Suspect F.G.R. (1968) was released from pre-trial detention today but still remains a suspect in the “Squid” and “Emerald” investigations.

F.G.R., was arrested on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the move by the government to launch something as important as the National Employment Registration Drive this coming Monday, the day of the snap parliamentary elections, seems untimely, illogical and a distraction.

Marlin said the registration drive is important as is the importance of residents exercising their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections and another more appropriate day should have been chosen to launch the event.

Many persons would be caught up in the election and in casting their ballot on the same day that this is scheduled to be held at the Government Administration Building and is aimed at registering job seekers for employment and or training opportunities Read more

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BRUSSELS:--- In what can be considered a very productive day in Brussels, Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin successfully addressed the OCTA Ministerial Conference on Post 2020 relations with the EU. While Carol Voges was re-elected for a second 1-year term as President of the OCTA Executive Committee.

The OCTA Executive Committee consists of 9 members, as President of the OCTA Executive Committee Ms Read more

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Minister Of Tourism De Weever Welcomes Cn-Express Air Connection For Windward Islands With Bonaire.

POND ISLAND:--- Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, says he welcomes the news about an agreement that has been signed this week between the Netherlands and Winair that would establish a direct air link between Bonaire and the Windward Islands of Saba, St Read more

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Creative Industries Forum Event To Be Hosted By Ministry Of Ecy.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Jorien Wuite, has announced that the ministry will be hosting a Creative Industries Interactive Exchange Forum, CIIEF, on March 21st, 2018 with an aim to encourage and fuel sensitization of the arts as a valuable contributor to the socio-economic sphere as well as to recognize and stimulate the role of the arts in the healing process of the island- especially amongst its young people.

The forum, consisting of workshops, presentations, as well as a panel discussion, targets key stakeholders in the field to facilitate open communication between the involved ministries and those directly executing and involved in the creative industries Read more

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Information Session On Housing Opportunities For Teachers Organized.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite invites all teachers, administrative and management staff desirous of exploring the possibility of owning their own home to an information session organized in collaboration with the General Pension Fund (APS) on Thursday, March 1st from 3-4: 30 pm at the Belair Community Center Read more

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Unesco Donates $50,000 To Public Schools.

PHILIPSBURG:--- UNESCO has approved $50,000 for the purchasing of learning materials for Public Education that was damaged by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

The learning materials that are being referred to are: textbooks, workbooks, and physical education materials. The learning materials are from the different subject areas from the national curriculum such as: English and Dutch language arts, science, and physical education.

The reasons why the texts books are needed was that the damaged books and materials were in used for over a 12-year period Read more

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Minister Of Tourism De Weever Pleased With Market Vendor Consultations For A New Viable And Sustainable Market Place.

POND ISLAND:--- Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, on Monday, attended a presentation that was organized by Ministry TEATT to inform market vendors about plans for market place.
“It is very important to communicate, inform and involve the market vendors in the process in order to have a win win for all involved.
“Market places are an attraction wherever you travel Read more

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Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin Meets With 3 Members Of The European Parliament

BRUSSELS:--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin met with three Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday on her mission to Brussels. She met with MEP Esther de Lange, MEP Agnes Jonger, us and MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij. This meeting was a follow up on a commitment made between the European Parliament and European Commission to as much as possible treat St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- It seemed like not only a delicious 3-course meal was on the menu, but also laughter and music were served last Saturday at the Holland House.

DJ Jansen and Joost de Jong were hosting an evening called “Diner Chantant” together with the fabulous staff from the Holland House. The two Dutch musical entertainers flew in a few weeks ago to help the people of St. Maarten in the aftermath of hurricane Irma.

They started at the beginning of February teaching free musical theatre classes at NIA (National Institute of Arts) and cooking free plant-based lunches and sharing them out on the streets to the people in need.

The couple raised funds in Holland to be able to buy the groceries and to allow the children to join the musical theatre classes for free Read more

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Emil Lee Plans To Hold Ground Breaking For New General Hospital Despite The Lack Of Finances.

~ Says he will not heed the advice given by SZV Supervisory Board since it's all about votes ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Interim Minister of VSA Emil Lee is hell-bent on fooling the populace of St. Maarten in order to garner enough votes on Monday for his re-election. Lee plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the New General Hospital on Friday despite not having the finances in place.
According to information provided to SMN News and the advice given by the Supervisory board of SZV to the Minister in 2017 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Director of Windward Roads Janhendrik Boekaar has been released on Wednesday while Member of Parliament Frans Richardson remains behind bars.
Reports reaching SMN News states that Boekaar was released around 4 pm on Wednesday.  The spokesperson for the Prosecutor Office Hazel Durand said in a statement that the suspect J.B Read more

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To All Political Parties Participating In The Upcoming Election.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As the election approaches, the electorate has not been informed about your intentions with regards to the governance, development and general direction you want to lead our Country in. The SMCP has published a manifesto but that unfortunately only includes statements with respect to how they intend to work, in government or in opposition, if elected. The important questions are not answered Read more

BRUSSELS:--- Sint Maarten has been the Regional Authorizing Officer (RAO) since 2015 for the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories. As Prime Minister, the Honorable Leona Romeo-Marlin chaired a meeting for this Programme in which next to Sint Maarten 11 other Caribbean islands participate. The name of the program reveals its focus: “Caribbean OCT’s Sustainable Energy, Coastal Management, and Resilience” Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- National Alliance #23 candidate William Marlin said in a press release on Monday that the timing of the detention of United St. Maarten party leader Member of Parliament Frans Richardson is strange and seems to be intended to influence the outcome of the February 26, snap parliamentary elections.

“It should not be seen as any coincidence”, Marlin said Read more

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POND ISLAND:--- Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, is encouraging interested persons and young people to apply for the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Scholarship Foundation for study grants and scholarships.
The scholarship foundation is accepting applications for the aforementioned from Caribbean nationals in CTO member countries Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the recent trip to Europe by Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier and Interim Prime Minister Leona Marlin Romeo was a total waste of taxpayers’ monies as the 50 million guilders loan agreement signed days ago between St Read more

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BRUSSELS:--- On February 23rd the 16th OCTA – EU Forum will be held in Brussels, leading up to the forum there will be political and technical meetings with the European Commission and other Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the EU. The Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin attended 2 meetings on Monday Read more

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